Duck sitting on eggs, what to look for when they are getting ready to hatch?

[Arielle2]

My Muscovy is due any day now I’m getting excited. Hard to listen to much noise in the barn.

You will hear the babies. They are like needy children and dont stop making noise if they need help.

I found three babies walking around a couple days ago screaming for help--- really they were desperately calling for thier mom, who was still on the nest!! I took them in to foster them for a while. THe next day I found a duckling near the nest upside down, and cold, near death. Collected the little one, made up a heating pad and held the little one while it warmed up and became functional; then in with the other three, on a heating pad. I finally put my hand into the nest checking for more ducklings-- no more. I pulled out each egg and checked it, stinky! peee-ew! 5 bad eggs. When the mom came out to eat her daily meal, my son and I caught her up and moved her to a pen. ANd gave her back her 4 babies. SHe was very happy and defensive toward me as she should be. Later I checked and the little ones were under her. Great. She will keep them warm as we still can have a cold nite.

I went back to the nest and removed the bad eggs.

This is a very devoted mom, and her hatchlings may die as she hopes for the last ones to hatch. This seems to be how muscovy behave, so I am ready with large totes, waterers, a warm place and a heater if need be to foster as needed.

IT is definitely far more difficult to help eggs that are hatching. THe mother will always do better than I can. BUt if she tends to the mobile ones, she is being a good mom.

All the best!!!

 

[Melmarquise]

I have. Duck she Laid 12 eggs..one was removed and put 2 ft away…shell broke..nothin in it;;she has been sitting 2 days straight…I don’t know how long she has been there. It’s in my garden..out in the open but under small over hang. When they hatch, I am nervous about crows getting them..as she leaves with them to the levee, I assume to go by water.
should u put an enclosure around her until she hatches all and then walk with her and her babies to levee..so she can get in water with them…it is 5 houses and up a levee to get into water. Or should I just let nature take its course. I did put a pan of water and she was drinking..but hasn’t moved in two days…off of nest. Any suggestions…Thank you